Speed-control mechanism for motor-vehicles.



H. E. CGFIEIN; SPEED CONTROL MBGHANISM POR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNE/SASE 1S @Q5/M H. E. COFFIN. SPEED CONTROL MBOHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLIUA'TION FILED JULY 18,1907.

L059526,I Patented Apr. .22, 1913.

p 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.//YVMTOR How/ARQ E @aff/Af H. E. COFFIN.

SPEED CONTROL MEGHANISM FOR MOTORI VEHICLES.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 18,1907.

1,059,526. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT IFIQE.

HOWARD E. COFFIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHALMERS MOTOR COMPANY, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SPEED-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, isis.

Application filed July 18. 1907. Serial No. 384,301.

To all whom' it muy concern Be it known that I, HOWARD E. COFFIN, a citizen of the United States lof America, residing at Detroit, in the count-y of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed- Control Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to the control mech anism for motor vehicles, and consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter set forth. i

In the drawings-Figure l is a sectional side elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism.

My improved control mechanism is of the type provided with two hand controlled levers A and B, the principal function of the former being to shift the gears of the trans'- mission mechanism, and the latter to set the brakes and control the main clutch. Pedals C and D are also provided for respectively Voperating a brake and throwing out the main clutch. The pedal C is directly mounted upon a transversely extending brake shaft E, and the pedal D is secured to a rock sleeve E' for operating the clutch, not shown. The lever Ais connected to operate a rock shaft G and is adapted both to rock the shaft and to move the same longitudi` nally.

H is a rock arm secured to the shaft, and extending downward into the casing I inclosing the transmission mechanism and into operative relation to the gear shifting slides J and K, the arrangement being such that a longitudinal movement of the shaft G will shift said arm H from engagement with one of said slides into engagement with the other, while the rocking of the shaft will operate the slide with which the arm is engaged. The lever B is connected to a sleeve L surrounding the shaft G and together therewith mounted in a bearing M upon the frame. This sleeve has secured thereto the rock arm N, which is connected to a rod O for operating the brake. In addition to this connection, the lever B controls the main clutch through mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Heretofore, mechanisms of the type above described have been provided with automatic locking devices, which prevent the operation of the gear shifting lever A when the leverI B is in certain positions of adjustment, as, for instance, where it is adjusted to engage the main clutch.

It is one of the objects of the present invention" to provide a simple and positive construction of locking mechanism for this purpose, and also one which will permit of such adjustment of the gears as can be safely effected when the main clutch is engaged; for instance. it is alwa'vs safe to :throw outl the gears if they are locked from rengagement at al different speed. My mechanism is therefore so constructed as to permit the throwing out of the gears when the machine is running at either high or low speed, whilejpreventing the further adjustment of the lever which would throw in the intermediate speed or reverse without first disengaging the clutch.

My improved locking mechanism comprises a pair of slides O and I), arranged parallel to each other. and extending between the rock shafts E and Gr at one side of the frame. These slides are mounted in suitable ways or bearings Q, rigidly secured to the frame of the machine` and the rear ends of the 4slides are in engagement respectively with the rock arm N on the sleeve L and a rock arm R on the shaft G. The forward end of the slide P is provided with adjacent notches S and T for alternative engagement with a detent I,T on a rock arm Il secured to a sleeve U2 on the shaft E. This sleeve Il2 is connected to the sleeve F throl'igh the medium of an adjustable connection. consisting of the arm V and set screw V', which bears against the pedal D. Thus the shifting of the slide I longitudinally is prevented whenever the detent II is in engagement with the notch S. and the complete shifting of the slide also prevented when said detent IT is in engagement with the notch T. The latter notch however. elongated suttieientl'v to permitan adbearing lV also on the rock arm U and for rocking said arm so as to liftthe detent U out of engagement with the notches S or T. This rocking of the arm U also causes the rocking of the sleeve U2 and, through the medium of the connection V V', rocks the sleeve l1T to throw outl the main clutch.

lVith the construction as above described, when the lever B is in its neutral position the cam ll' will be withdrawn from the bearing lV permitting the rock arln U and llt-tent' l1' thereon to assume a position of engagement with one or the other of the notches S and T in the slide P. If the lever .i is in its neutral position, or is adjusted for high speed, the detent U will engage the notch l`. lf, on the other hand, the lever is in a position for intermediate speed or reverse, the detent- U will be engaged with the notch-S, and will lock the slide P from any shifting whatsoever. Thus is would be impossible for the operator to shift the lever from this latter adjustment without first. shifting the lever B from its neutral position to a position where it \\ill disengage the clutch through thc l medimn of the cam lV, bearing lV' rock arm U, and other connections previously;

described. that when the lever A is adjusted for-.high or slow speedsv (both of which are controlled by the rocking of the lever in the same dircction .but `in different positions of longitudinal adjustment of the shaftG) a a limited movement of the slide P is permitted by the elongated notch T, and this is sufficient vto allow the gears to be disengaged.

As has been stated, the arm H on the rock shaft Gr is alternatively engaged with the slides J and K by the longitudinal shifting of said rock shaft. This longitudinal shift` ing is effected, in the construction shown, by attaching the lever Ato the shaft, so as to pivot it in the plane of the shaft, and by forming a fulcrum bearing for the lever on the segment M therefor. The longitudinal shifting of the shaft must be effected when the lever A is in its neutral position, and to compel this stop, flanges X and Y are arranged preferably on the wall of the transmission easing and engage with a linger Z on the rock arm H. AThese flanges X and Y are in substantial alinement with each other, with an intervening space X, through whiclrthe .finger Z is'permitted to pass when in registration therewith, this being Whenthe lever is in its neutral position. The finger is also formed-so as to be adjustable longitudinally on either side of the flanges X and Y, and thus in either position of longitudinal adjustment of the shaft G the rocking of the lever A is permissible, but in an intermediate position of longitudinal adjustment of the shaft the lever is locked from rocking. The construction of the It will be observed, however,j

-diate.

transmission is preferably such that the high and intermediate speeds arev respectively thrown .-in when the slide J is at opposite ends of its adjustment, and this slide can only be adjusted when the rock shaft G is shifted longitudinally inward, and the finger Z is upon the inner side of the flanges X and Y. On the other hand, the slide K, when adjusted in opposite directions respectively throws in the slow speed and the lreverse, and this adjustment is possible only when the shaft G is longitudinally shifted outward. and the finger Z is on the outer side of the flanges X `and Y. Thus a rocking of the lever A, through its entire range of angular adjustment, will in one posit-ion of longitudinal adjustment pass from slow to reverse, and in the other position of longitudinal adjust-ment from high to interme- Any other adjustment of thelever necessitates a longitudinal adjustment while in neutral angular position and the passage of the inger Z through the slot X between the flanges X and Y.

It is desirable to prevent the accidental angular shifting of the lever over the neutral point, especially in passing from slow to reverse. This is acco-mplished by off-setting the-flanges X and Y in relation to each other, so' as to form a stop shoulder Y, which lies in the direct path of the finger Z, and to be avoided compels a slight longitudinal shifting of the shaft when the lever is in neutral angular position.

To further avoid the accidental throwing in of the reverse, I provide means, such as a spring G upon the shaft G for automatically shifting said shaft inward Whenever the finger Z`is in registration with the slot X. rI `hus, if the operator shifts the lever A from position of slow speed, as soon as the neutral point is reached the spring Gr will longitudinally shift the shaft, so that a further angular adjustment of the lever will throw in the intermediate speed and not the reverse. If the operat-or desires to throw in the reverse, he must do this by a movey cles comprising a plurality of control levers,v

concentric rock shafts respectively connected to said levers, rock arms on said rock shafts, parallel slides actuated by said rock arms, a rock arm operated by one of said slides in a direction transverse to the plane of movement of said slides, mechanism controlled by said rock arm, a `detent carried by said rock arm, and the other slide having a plurality of notched bearings for engagement with said detent, one of said bearings being elongated to permit a limited movement of the slide. j 2. Ina control mechanism for motor vehicles, the combination With a-vehicle frame and a plurality of control levers fulcrumed thereo-n, of parallel slides mounted upon the side sill of said frame and respectively actuated by said levers, and a rock shaft actuated by o-ne of said slides controlling the locking of the other slide.

3. In a control mechanism, a lever angularly adjustable in different planes and laterally adjustable from one plane to another, meansforihoniining said lever to one or the yother of its planes when out of its neutral position of adjustment, a lined stop for preventing angular movement in the same plane from one side to the other of said neutral position of adjustment, and means for yieldably forcing said lever vvhen in its neutral position toward one ot its planes.

4. ln a control mechanism, a lever angularly adjustable in differentplanes and laterally adjustable -trom one plane to another,

means for conning said lever to one plane When out of its neutral position, a iiXed stop preventing the angular adjustment of said lever :trom one side to the other of its neutral position While in the same plane, said stop being avoidable by lateral movement of the lever in one direction, and means for yieldably forcing said lever in the opposite direction and toward of angular-adjustment i acontrol mechanism, a lever angun v n n Q larly adjustable in-diderent planes and lata dillerent plane erally adjustable from one planete another,-

separate mechanisms operatedby said lever when in dii'iperent planes of adjustment, a guide tor confining saidglever to one plane, excepting when in itsintermediate neutral position of adjustment, and having a slot for permitting lateral adjustment of the lever'v'vhen in said neutral position, said guide being iid-set on opposite sides oi said slot to prevent angular movement or the lever from one side to lthe other in the same plane.

6. ln a control mechanism, the combination `with a lever angularly adjustable in diderent planes and laterally adjustable trom one plane to the other, separate mechanisms operated by said lever when in different positions of adjustment, a rock shaft adjusted rotatively and axially vby the respective adjustments of said lever, a rock arm on said rock shaft for alternative engagement 'with the diderent mechanisms when' said lever is in diderent planes 'of adjustment, a finger on said rock arm, a guide fora engaging said finger and holding said lever in one er the other or its planes when said finger is upon opposite sides of said guide, said guide having a slot; with which said finger is registered in the neutral position of saidV lever, and a spring for yieldably pressing said rock shaft, lever and arm' in one direction when said finger is in registration vvith said slot.

, 7. ln a control mechanism, the combination with a rock shaft and means for operating the same, ot a rock arm, a'casing having flanges slightly spaced from. one another at thelower end of said arm, one of said flanges beingoset to form a stop in the path of the rock arm while in engagement with the other flange, said ,rock arm being longitudinally adjustable on either side of said flanges.

8. ln a control mechanism the combination With a rock shaft and means for operating the same, of a rock arm, a casing having flanges slightly spaced from one another at the lower end of said arm, one of -said flanges being' of greater crosssection than the other forming a stop in the path of the rock arm While in engagement with the other flange, said rock arm being longitudinally adjustable on either side of said anges.

9, control mechanism comprising a plurality Yof levers, parallel slides connected `lor actuation respectively by said levers, a rock arm actuated by one of said slides, a detent on said rock arm for locking another slide,

`mechanism operated by said rock shaft.

1G. A. control mechanism comprising a plurality oit levers, parallel slides actuated respectively by said levers, one of said slides having a cam face, a rock arm actuated by said cam tace slide, a detent carried by said .rndlgarm, another slide having means for engagig'said -detrentnin diierent positions actuated by said roel; arm, and mechanism operated by said rock shalt.

ll. A. control mechanism comprising va plurality of levers, parallel slides connected for actuation respectively by said levers7 a rock arm actuated by one of said slides, a detent on said rock armv forlocking another slide, a rock shaft operated by said roclr arm, a second member adapted to be actuated upon the operation of the rock arm, and mechanisms controlled respectively by said rock shaft and 'second member.

l2. A control mechanism comprising a for actuation respectively by said levers, a rock arm actuated by one of said slides, a detent on said rock arm for locking another' slide, a' rock shaft actuated by said rock arm, mechanism operated by said shaft, and, means for operating the roclr shaft independently et the slides.

i3. ln a control mechanism, the combinaytion with two, roclrable members7 of levers a rock shaft operated by said rock arm, and

plurality of levers, parallel slides connected j;

ltlO

ot adjustment of said slide, a'roclr sha-'ft l'a L ,"L' v ror respectively controlling said naman-,35, 2,-@

lupon the actuation ofone of thellevers, a

- thirdlever, and `nfeans controlled `by said last-mentioned lever \for simultaneouslyioperating both of said rockable members.v

14:. In a control mechanism, the combina;

tion with a plurality of iarallelslides, a

movable detent, one of said slides having a plurality of bearings for engfingthe detent in different positions of a `just`ment of said slide, 'engagement with one `of said bearings beiny adapted to lock the slide from movement and engagement with another of said bearings permitting a limited mcvef ment, a'lever for actuatin the last-men- 15 tioned slide, means actuated y another slide for engaging and yldisengaging saiddetent from its coperating bearings', 'and a second lever for operating the last-mentioned slide.

In testimonywhereof I aix my signature 20 in presenceo'f two witnesses. Y

HOWARD E. COFFIN.

Witnesses:

AMELIAWILLIAMS, :NELLIE KINSELLA; 

